The Suicide in Dunedin.

Star (Christchurch), Issue 5840, 1 February 1887, Page 4

The Suicide in Dunedin.

j fPxB Press Association.] DUNEDIN, Jan. 81. At the inquest on Edwin Alfred Baldwin, who was found dead on the Belt, the jury returned a verdict of " Death by suicide, while in a state of temporary insanity." The deceased was a native of New Plymouth, 20 years of age, single, and a bootmaker by trade. He only arrived in Dunedin about six weeks ago from Auckland. It appears that he frequently spoke of doing away with himself, and seemed tired of hia life, being despondent from some imaginary cause. On the deceased was found the following letter: — "My dear sister Alice, — Forgive me for what I have done to myself and you. Dear George, — Accept my dying thanks for what you have done for me. Dear Alice, write to my dear father and brother and sisters, and tell them they must all forgive me. Tell them the reason that I shot myself is because I can't agree with my mother and Anderson's ! children, and I am tired of this life, and don't see no future way of getting out of it. Tell them that I don't bear them no ill feelings, but don't ask them forgiveness, because they are the cause of my death." The letter mentioned about his watch being pawned. It was not signed. Mrs Anderson, the mother of the deceased, said they had breakfast together last Monday, when the deceased left between 8 and 9 to go to work. Nothing unpleasant occurred between them. The jury added a rider to the verdict, that it was a disgrace to Dunedin that there was no morgue to receive a body in such cases as the present. The body had lain on the Belt for nearly a week, and was in a shocking state of decomposition. Tet it was taken to an hotel, and the licensee was compelled to take it against his wish, i though it was almost impossible to remain j in the house with it.